Osaka Gas Co., Ltd., was asking for a novel thermal storage technique, or material. This should meet the requirements of: Having a thermal storage density of 400 KJ/L, and be usable in the temperature range from 0 to 150 degrees Celsius.
There are two possible ways to reach those thermal energy storage density`s, chemical storage and thermal storage. In this last one the distinction can be made in: Sensible- and Latent heat. Both possibility’s has it pro`s and con`s, like stability and reactivity, but latent heat gives the most advantages.
By taking all those restrictions in account, the most suitable material is: Barium Hydroxide octahydrate.
There were no further requirements made by Osaka Gas Co., Ltd., about the applicability, so the Client said that a “Exchanging and storage devices” needed to be designed. The main goal of this device is that it stores the heat produced by a fuel cell, and releases later on to tap water for use in a house hold.
To design the device, first the total volume needed to store the amount of heat produced in a day should be calculated. Next the heat exchanging surface to heat up the tap water will be calculated. Which eventually then leads to the dimensions of the device.
And finally this leads to the cost and selling prices of the apparatus, but before setting a selling price can set, the market should be known. This is approximate 0,5% of all Dutch households. Overall the project will have a payback time of 7 years, and will provide a profit of 21 million dollars in ten years’ time.
Altogether the project is viable, but to make this project even more viable after 10 years, it will require new technologies and new ideas to transform and improve the heat storage to be able to attract new users.